Filmmaking is a team effort… but it also takes individual leadership, hustle, passion, vision, tenacity, grit and perhaps pathological optimism.
Most filmmakers think they have. Not all do. But Simon Cox does.
Simon spent nearly two decades making his passion project, a movie postcard back to the kid inside him, the one who fell in love with movies and big concept TV of the seventies. It’s called ‘Invasion Planet Earth’. It’s BIG!
I was involved only in an adjacent way, a close friend, sometimes adviser, often confidant… but I did see it through from concept to today. And what a ride it’s been.
I saw it grow to a ten million dollar epic, collapse into a heap, get reborn into an even bigger project, before again collapsing… Promises were broken, funding never came through… It was heart breaking.
Having had enough of OTHER people controlling his destiny, Simon drew a line in the sand and said ‘Enough… It’s going to get MY way…’
And so, the decades long production process began.
Mostly it took place in small industrial units, garages and living rooms. Occasionally on Birmingham streets. And green screen, wow SO MUCH green screen.
Family and friends and anyone crazy enough to follow the maniacal vision all buckled up for the ride. To give you perspective, his daughters are in the film, playing different characters. They grew SO much during the years of filming, that they looked totally different!
On long drives I would chat with Simon as he watched the blue render bar of After Effects nudge up 1% every half hour… Simon had to learn to do his own VFX when he had no budget. Plans were laid for distribution and sales. Plots were hatched.
And finally now, the film is in cinemas for ONE DAY only, on December 5th. Check out the listings on myvue.com and PLEASE go see it on that one day. It will NOT be playing on December the 6th.
So… if you want to see what a decades worth of grit, passion and leadership can achieve, with little and often no resources above personal charisma and hustle… Do yourself a favour and go see ‘Invasion Planet Earth’. I plan to be at the Shepherds Bush screening so look out for me there.
Onwards and upwards!
Chris Jones
My movies www.LivingSpiritGroup.com
My Facebook www.Facebook.com/ChrisJonesFilmmaker
My Twitter @LivingSpiritPix
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